Farmers Block Highway at Shambhu Border After Police Stop ‘Delhi Chalo’ March
Hundreds of farmers from Punjab blocked the national highway at the Shambhu border on Tuesday after Haryana Police prevented them from entering Haryana for their planned ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. The protest was organised against the proposed India-US trade agreement, with farmers aiming to attend a Kisan Mahapanchayat at Delhi’s Kisan Ghat under the banner of the Desh Bachao Morcha. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Haryana Police strengthened security at the Punjab-Haryana border by installing heavy barricades, concrete blocks and deploying a large number of police personnel to stop the march towards the national capital. The security arrangements were similar to those seen during the 2024 farmers’ protests.
After being denied passage, farmers from several organisations staged a road blockade at the Shambhu border, accusing the Haryana government of preventing them from exercising their democratic right to protest peacefully in Delhi. Traffic on the highway was disrupted as large numbers of protesters remained at the border.
The Kisan Mahapanchayat was called by the Desh Bachao Morcha, bringing together farmer organisations from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The groups are demanding that the Central Government withdraw the proposed India-US trade deal, saying it could seriously affect India’s agriculture and dairy sectors by allowing greater access to subsidised American farm products.
Farmer leaders warned that the proposed agreement could reduce the competitiveness of Indian farmers, particularly small and marginal cultivators. They also criticised the lack of transparency in the negotiations and demanded that the government make the details of the trade talks public before signing any agreement.
Later in the day, farmer leaders submitted a memorandum to Haryana authorities. Police officials said the protesters agreed to gradually clear the highway after handing over their demands, although hundreds of farmers continued to remain at the Shambhu border while discussions continued.
